Former Minister for Regional Development; Lands; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development

Boost for West Australian agrifood exporters

15/10/2016 6:00 AM

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More than $1.4m Government investment to target premium export market

Made possible by Liberal National Government's Royalties for Regions program

Seven Western Australian agrifood businesses will share in more than $1.4 million in business grants, as part of a program to facilitate access to the growing premium export market of Asia.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Lewis said the Liberal National Government had awarded grants for projects aimed at capturing export market opportunities and attracting investment.

"The successful projects were independently assessed, looking at export growth capacity and sustainability; new opportunities for Western Australian products in high-value Asian markets; and the positive impact on regional communities and the wider economy," Mr Lewis said.

"The Grants for Asian Market Export have been distributed across a number of industries in the agrifood sector, including livestock; grains; seafood; and horticulture, and will have potential flow-on benefits for several regions in Western Australia."

Milne Agrigroup Pty Ltd through Mount Barker Free Range Farms will establish access and capture market share in premium Asian outlets, in order to generate sustainable market positions based on ethically produced products with WA provenance.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the grants were part of the Department of Agriculture and Food's $6 million Asian Market Success project, which was a component of the $350 million comprehensive Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative made possible by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.

"These grants provide strategic support to Western Australian agribusinesses to enter or expand their presence in competitive Asian premium markets," Mr Redman said.

"They will generate important long-term benefits to regional communities and the State."

The second round of Grants for Asian Market Export will open on October 24, 2016, offering grants from $20,000 to $200,000. Applications will close on November 25, 2016.

Fact File

WA's top three agrifood export markets in 2014-15 to Asia were China including Hong Kong and Macau ($1.83 billion); Indonesia ($1.07 billion); and Japan ($671 million)